Digital literacy
Digital literacy is important in advocacy, communication and collaboration in healthcare. Patients have become more empowered, and they are now turning to social media networks to get medical information while also using medical control apps to control their health. However, most hospitals are yet to incorporate new technologies in their systems, thus limiting the quality of care delivered. Moreover, nurses need to be educated on how to use digital to incorporate the use of digital equipment in medical practice. Multiple technology trends re already supporting smart mobility healthcare role including cloud computing, big data analytics and social networks. These technologies aim at driving healthcare changes, improving outcomes and increasing access and lowering cost. In recent times there has also been the emergence of health-related mobile technologies such as the MHealth and their missions is to remain patient-centric. Still, they are based on data analytics and information services. The mission remains patient-centric because it involves delivering health information to customers to make better choices and remotely monitoring the performance of patients. These increases information relating to aggregated big data and patient-specific data, which helps in coming up with customized medical outcomes.
However, these innovations are simple and can easily be installed in hospitals. For example, getting rid of the fax machine and providing staff with new ways of communicating recruiting and digitalization of referrals are achievable. However, without a good workforce, innovations may have no utility. Unless the hospitals have staff, who are well educated on using the digital equipment, coming up with an NHS app and skype appointment app my not be successful.
Technology can increases participation agendas through increasing accessibility for those people that may not get a chance to access traditionally delivered healthcare. Technology can greatly help those people that leave in remote areas, and I find it difficult to travel. This can, on the other hand, empower those working for health and social care. Digital skills can make it easier for health students to learn. Students can access materials and information at any time and place.
Research has shown that if more hospitals embrace digital technologies, the better it will be for patients. This means that nurses need to be educated on how to use technology such as electronic health records, tracking patients’ systems, telehealth and remote access systems. Nursing students studying today need to become experts in the use of technology to make sure that digitals skills application in the clinical context is user friendly, safe and effective. Digital skills learnt in school help in saving time at the workplace expediting communication and streamlining processes. Telehealth is more common today than it was in years past; however, various infrastructural, technical and social barriers prevent it from being more common nursing. However, many restrictions based on licensure are changing to accommodate the changing technologies and practices. To move forward, nursing students should embrace this development as part of their professional development.
Telehealth can also play a major role in training nursing students, especially those in clinical placement. The technology offers technical support for distance learners while students are on clinical placement. Bedside medical support has never been greater than now.
Healthcare institutions and governments need to stop some traditional healthcare practices and embrace diversity and flexibility, which is offered by online systems. Online healthcare practices may call for teleconferencing, videoconferencing, listening to Mp4 and Mp3 files or sending emails. It is important for people working in the healthcare sector to understand the etiquette associated with communicating using these tools.